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Stretchable microfluidic electric circuit applied for radio frequency antenna

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kubo, M; Li, X; Kim, C; Hashimoto, M; Wiley, BJ; Ham, D; Whitesides, GM
Published in: Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference
July 21, 2011

This paper describes a new method for fabricating highly stretchable and robust electrical circuits. The circuits consist of liquid metal (eutectic gallium indium alloy, EGaIn) enclosed in elastomeric microfluidic channels. In particular, a microfluidic hybrid structure made of two types of elastomers (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Ecoflex (type 0030, Reynolds Advanced Materials) with different stiffness has been developed to improve the stretchability and mechanical stability of the circuits. These circuits can be flexed, twisted, and stretched up to 2.2 times of their original length l 0. When we applied this stretchable circuit for radio-frequency antennas, the antennas exhibited no degradation in reflected power even after being repeatedly stretched to l 1.50 l0 more than 100 times. This stretchability also allows the resonance frequencies of the antennas to be mechanically tuned around 1 GHz. The stretchable and robust circuits may be useful in reconfigurable and conformal structures, wearable sensors and large-area electronics, and other devices that must undergo large mechanical deformation. © 2011 IEEE.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference

DOI

ISSN

0569-5503

Publication Date

July 21, 2011

Start / End Page

1582 / 1587
 

Citation

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Kubo, M., Li, X., Kim, C., Hashimoto, M., Wiley, B. J., Ham, D., & Whitesides, G. M. (2011). Stretchable microfluidic electric circuit applied for radio frequency antenna. Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference, 1582–1587. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECTC.2011.5898722
Kubo, M., X. Li, C. Kim, M. Hashimoto, B. J. Wiley, D. Ham, and G. M. Whitesides. “Stretchable microfluidic electric circuit applied for radio frequency antenna.” Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference, July 21, 2011, 1582–87. https://doi.org/10.1109/ECTC.2011.5898722.
Kubo M, Li X, Kim C, Hashimoto M, Wiley BJ, Ham D, et al. Stretchable microfluidic electric circuit applied for radio frequency antenna. Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference. 2011 Jul 21;1582–7.
Kubo, M., et al. “Stretchable microfluidic electric circuit applied for radio frequency antenna.” Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference, July 2011, pp. 1582–87. Scopus, doi:10.1109/ECTC.2011.5898722.
Kubo M, Li X, Kim C, Hashimoto M, Wiley BJ, Ham D, Whitesides GM. Stretchable microfluidic electric circuit applied for radio frequency antenna. Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference. 2011 Jul 21;1582–1587.

Published In

Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference

DOI

ISSN

0569-5503

Publication Date

July 21, 2011

Start / End Page

1582 / 1587